Magazine for launcher

ABSTRACT

A magazine for a projectile launcher is provided. The magazine has a housing having a cavity to retain a plurality of frangible projectiles, a follower and spring to engage and push the projectiles through the cavity, and feed lips extending from the housing. The magazine also has an opening to allow a projectile to be ejected from the housing and to remain engaged by the feed lips when the magazine is connected to the launcher. When the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel of the launcher and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach but the projectile remains associated with the feed lips. However, upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile that was in the barrel breach remains with the magazine.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/446,748, filed Jan. 16, 2017, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to projectile launchers, and more specifically to a frangible projectile launcher having pneumatic fire control, a low-pressure safety bleed valve, a quick-release stock and modified magazine feed lips.

BACKGROUND

Magazines for frangible projectiles for projectile launchers and magazines for ammunition/cartridges for firearms are well known in the art. While such magazines according to the prior art provide a number of advantages, they nevertheless have certain limitations. Magazines are typically attached to a firearm via a slot in the firearm receiver, usually below the action but occasionally to the side or on top. When necessary, the magazine can easily be detached from the firearm and replaced by another. This significantly speeds the process of reloading, allowing the operator quick access to ammunition. Traditionally, magazines function by moving the cartridges stored within it into a position where they may be loaded into the barrel chamber by the action of the firearm.

A magazine typically has four parts: a spring, a spring follower, a body and a base. The spring and follower generally push against the cartridges to move them into the action. When you work the action, a cartridge is picked up from the magazine and placed in the chamber ready to be fired. Put another way, upon inserting a loaded magazine into a firearm, the user typically depresses the slide stop, which moves the slide forward and strips a round from the top of the magazine stack into the chamber so that the firearm is ready to be fired. Most magazines designed for use with a reciprocating bolt firearm make use of a set of feed lips which stop the vertical motion of the cartridges out of the magazine but allow one cartridge at a time to be pushed forward (stripped) out of the feed lips by the firearm's bolt into the chamber. The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, the disclosed subject technology relates to a magazine for a gun.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine for a projectile launcher having a barrel with a breach, the magazine comprising: a housing having a cavity to retain a plurality of frangible projectiles; a projectile path in the cavity of the housing; a follower and spring to engage the projectile and push the projectiles through the projectile path; feed lips extending from the housing, the feed lips having a first recess and a second recess; and, an opening in the housing to allow a projectile to be ejected from the housing and to remain retained by the feed lips, wherein when the magazine is not connected to the launcher the projectile is retained in the first recess of the feed lips, and wherein when the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach, but the projectile remains adjacent the second recess in the feed lips and ready for launching, and wherein upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile that was in the barrel breach transitions to the first recess and remains with the magazine.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine for a projectile launcher having a barrel with a breach, the magazine comprising: a housing having a cavity to retain a plurality of frangible projectiles; a follower and spring to engage and push the projectiles through the cavity; feed lips extending from the housing; and, an opening in the housing to allow a projectile to be ejected from the housing and to remain engaged by the feed lips, wherein when the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel of the launcher and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach but the projectile remains associated with the feed lips, and wherein upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile that was in the barrel breach remains with the magazine.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine for a projectile launcher having a barrel with a breach, the magazine comprising: a housing having a projectile path to retain a plurality of frangible projectiles in the path; a follower and spring to engage and push the projectiles through the projectile path; feed lips extending from the housing, the lips having a first recess and a second recess; and, an opening in the housing to allow a projectile to be ejected from the housing but to remain engaged by the feed lips, wherein when the magazine is not connected to the launcher the projectile is retained in the first recess of the feed lips, and wherein when the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach, but the projectile remains associated with the feed lips of the magazine adjacent the second recess ready for launching, but upon removal of the magazine the projectile that was in the barrel breach transitions to the first recess and remains with the magazine.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine having a projectile path in the cavity of the housing. In one embodiment, the projectile turns 90° in the projectile path. In another embodiment, the projectile path is U-shaped.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine wherein an axis of the projectile when the projectile is adjacent the second recess is collinear with an axis of the barrel.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine wherein the housing comprises a first housing part connected to a second housing part in a clamshell manner.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine wherein the feed lips are resilient.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine wherein the feed lips have a first recess and a second recess.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine wherein when the magazine is not connected to the launcher the projectile that is ejected is retained in the first recess of the feed lips.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine wherein upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile that was placed in the barrel breach remains with the magazine in a first recess in the feed lips.

The disclosed subject technology further relates to a magazine wherein when the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach, but the projectile remains associated with the feed lips of the magazine adjacent a second recess in the feed lips ready for launching.

It is understood that other embodiments and configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present disclosure, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the disclosures are illustrated and, together with the descriptions below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frangible projector launcher according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frangible projectile launcher of FIG. 1 with the magazine and stock exploded from the launcher.

FIG. 3A is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of a magazine with a projectile in a position for being launched adjacent a firing recess of the magazine.

FIG. 3B is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of a magazine with a projectile in a retained recess of the magazine.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a magazine connected to a barrel of a launcher according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a magazine connected to a barrel of a launcher.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a magazine connected to a barrel of a launcher.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a magazine connected to a barrel of a launcher.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a magazine connected to a barrel of a launcher and with a projectile in the breach of the barrel.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the magazine of FIG. 8 being removed from the launcher following the projectile being located in the breach of the barrel.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of a frangible projector launcher according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of a frangible projector launcher according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of a frangible projector launcher according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the launcher and magazine for a projectile launcher discussed herein are susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the magazine and launcher, and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the disclosure to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring now to the figures, there is shown various embodiments of a launcher 10 for projectiles. In one embodiment, the launcher 10 utilizes compressed or high pressure gas to provide the propellant to accelerate a bolt within the launcher to fire a projectile from the breach in the barrel of the launcher.

Also disclosed is a magazine 20 for holding a plurality of projectiles 22. In one embodiment, the projectiles 22 comprise frangible projectiles 22. Referring to FIGS. 3-9, the magazine 20 generally comprises a housing 24, a follower 26, a spring 28, and feed lips 30, which may be resilient feed lips. As shown in FIGS. 5-9, the magazine 20 may be made up of two magazine halves 32 secured together in a clamshell manner. Inside the magazine 20 the projectiles 22 may be positioned in a variety of manners. In one embodiment the magazine 20 has a cavity 33 having a projectile path 34. The projectile path 34 is generally the location where the plurality of projectiles 22 reside for dispensing into the launcher 10, and the path they take in transferring from the rear of the magazine to the front of the magazine, and ultimately out the opening of the magazine. The opening 36 of the magazine 20 is at the front of the magazine housing 24 and provides access to the feed lips 30.

Typically, during loading of the magazine 20, projectiles 22 are fed into the projectile path 34 of the magazine housing 24 through the opening 36. Accordingly, the first projectile 22 fed into the projectile path 34 will be the last projectile 22 that exits from the magazine 20. When the projectiles 22 are fed into the housing 24 they are inserted transverse to the opening 36—that is in the same orientation as they are in when they are ejected from the magazine 20. As the projectiles 22 are pushed into the housing 24 down the projectile path 34, they encounter rotaters 38 that operate to rotate the projectiles 90°. This is necessary because in one embodiment the projectile path 34 is U-shaped, and for the projectiles 22 to be able to turn the corner at the bottom of the U-Shape, the projectiles 22 need to be inline with the axis of the path 34.

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the follower 26 and spring 28 reside inside the projectile path 34. The spring 28 is connected to the housing 24 at the end of the projectile path 34 opposite the opening 36 of the housing 24. The other end of the spring 28 is connected to the follower 26. The follower 26 contacts the last projectile 22 in the projectile path 34 and pushes all of the projectiles 22 from the rear of the projectile line. FIGS. 6-8 demonstrate how the follower 26 pushes the projectiles 22 inside the projectile path 34. In an actual magazine, however, the projectile path 34 would always be full of projectiles 22 from the follower 26 to the opening 36 of the housing 24. However, for graphic purposes only so that the structure inside the projectile path 34 is visible, including the rotaters 38, the projectiles 22 downstream of the projectile 22 contacting the follower 26 have been removed from these figures. As the projectiles 22 traverse from the rear of the projectile path 34 (i.e., FIG. 6), they traverse past the rotaters 38 (FIG. 7). The rotaters 38 rotate the projectiles 22 approximately 90° such that instead of being positioned with their axis in the same direction of the axis of the projectile path 34, such as the projectile 22 in FIG. 6, the axis of the projectiles 22 is 90° transverse to the axis of the projectile path 34 after they pass through the rotaters 38, and the projectiles 22 are properly orientated for being ejected inline into the breach 40 of the barrel 42 as shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in one embodiment the feed lips 30 extend from the housing 24 and have a first recess 48 and a second recess 50. The first recess 48 is for retaining the projectile 22 in the lips 30 of the magazine 20, as shown in FIG. 3B, prior to insertion of the magazine 20 into the barrel 42, as shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, the first recess 48 is for retaining the projectile 22 in the lips 30 of the magazine 20 upon removal of the magazine 20 from the launcher 10 as shown in FIG. 9. Conversely, the second recess 50 is a cutout that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the barrel 42 to allow the projectile 22 to be launched from the magazine 20 as shown in FIGS. 3A, 4 and 8.

Prior to insertion of the magazine 20 into the launcher 10, the projectile 22 at the opening 36 of the magazine 20 will be retained in the first recess 48 of the feed lips 30. When the projectile 22 is held in the first recess 48, the projectile 12 is not aligned with the longitudinal axis of the barrel 42. Upon insertion of the magazine 20 into the launcher 10, the feed lips 30 engage a cut-out 54 in the barrel 42 as shown in FIG. 4. In one embodiment the feed lips 30 may have some resiliency and therefore the feed lips 30 may be spread apart slightly as they engage the barrel 42.

At the time when the magazine 20 is inserted into the launcher 10 and the feed lips 30 engage the barrel 42, the projectile 22 is placed in the barrel breach 40 and is no longer engaged in the first recess 48, but instead is aligned with the second recess 50 to allow the projectile 22 to be launched from the launcher 10 as shown in FIG. 8. Even though the projectile 22 is in the breach 40 of the barrel 42 and is ready for launching upon insertion of the magazine 20 into the launcher 10, the projectile 22 is still adjacent the second recess 50 in the feed lips 30.

However, if the magazine 20 were to be removed from the launcher 10, the projectile 22 that was in the breach 40 of the barrel 42 transitions to the first recess 48 of the feed lips 30 and is retained by the feed lips 30 as the magazine 20 is removed from the launcher 10. Accordingly, unlike traditional magazines where the ejected projectile is placed in the breach and is not retained by the feel lips, in the present embodiment the feed lips 30 remain associated with the projectile 22 adjacent the second recess 50 in the feed lips 30. And, when the magazine 20 is removed from the launcher 10 the projectile 22 is retained by the first recess 48 in the feed lips 30 as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12, in one embodiment the launcher 110 utilizes compressed or high pressure gas to provide the propellant to accelerate a bolt 111 within the launcher 110 to fire a frangible projectile 112 from the launcher 110. The launcher 110 also has a trigger 114 to initiate the process for firing the projectile 112. In one embodiment, instead of controlling the action of the bolt 111 with the trigger 114, the trigger 114 controls the action of a fire control piston 116. Therefore, this embodiment has a pneumatic fire control that uses pressure to release the sear and spring force to reset the system, unlike other pneumatic fire control devices, which use pressure to reset the system and spring force to release the sear.

As shown in FIGS. 10-12, the trigger 114 has a shoulder 118 at an end thereof. When the trigger 114 is in the neutral position the shoulder 118 engages and retains a pivot bar 120 that pivots about a pivot point 122. Referring to FIG. 10, the launcher 110 also contains a pivotable sear 124 that restrains the bolt 111 to prevent the bolt 111 from firing the projectile 112. Prior to the firing of a projectile 112, the low pressure region 126 is placed under pressure. High pressure gas from the low pressure region 126 is able to fill the fire control piston 116 by passing through the needle valve 128, thereby placing the fire control piston 116 under pressure. By adjusting the needle valve 128, you can control how fast the volume of the fire control piston 116 is filed with high pressure gas. However, the fire control piston 116 is restrained from movement toward the sear 124 due to being restrained by the pivot bar 120. When the trigger 114 is engaged and pulled or rotated backwards, the pivot bar 120 disengages from the shoulder 118 and is free to be moved. Consequently, the pressure within the fire control piston 116 pushes against the pivot bar 120 and pivots the pivot bar 120 into the sear 124, thereby pivoting the sear 124 so that it no longer restrains the bolt 111. Consequently, the pressure in the low pressure region 126 of the launcher 110 propels the bolt toward the opening in the barrel and fires the projectile 112 located in the chamber 127.

Following the firing of the launcher 110, springs operate to return the bolt 111, sear 124, fire control piston 116 and trigger 114 back to their unactuated positions as shown in FIG. 10. Further, following the firing of a launcher 110, there is a slight delay in re-filling the fire control piston 116 because the high pressure gas has to once again flow between the needle and the check valve 128 in the low pressure region 126 of the launcher 110.

As shown in FIGS. 10-12, various embodiments of the present launchers 110 also incorporate a self-relieving bleed or blow-off valve 130 in the low pressure region 126 of the launcher 110. During normal operation of the launcher 110, the blow-off valve 130 operates by allowing excess pressure to escape from the low pressure side 126 of the launcher 110, thereby preventing either excessive velocity or an internal seal failure from over-pressurizing the low pressure region 126. The blow-off valve 130 has a spring 132 that sets the blow-off valve pressure. The spring 132 is held in place by a piston 134, which is pressurized by the high pressure input air in the high pressure side 136 of the launcher 110. If the pressure in the high pressure side 136 decreases or is released, the piston 134 will move toward the high pressure side 136 because of the increased pressure on the low pressure side 126 in relation to the high pressure side 136. Movement of the piston 134 toward the high pressure side 136 will correspondingly move the blow-off valve 130 toward the high pressure side 136, thereby opening the vent 138 to release pressure from the low pressure side 126.

Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term “plurality” as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Additionally, the term “having” as used herein in both the disclosure and claims, is utilized in an open-ended manner.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A magazine for a projectile launcher having a barrel with a breach, the magazine comprising: a housing having a cavity to retain a plurality of frangible projectiles; a projectile path in the cavity of the housing; a follower and spring to engage the projectile and push the projectiles through the projectile path; feed lips extending from the housing, the feed lips having a first recess and a second recess; and, an opening in the housing to allow a projectile to be ejected from the housing and to remain retained by the feed lips, wherein when the magazine is not connected to the launcher the projectile is retained in the first recess of the feed lips, and wherein when the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach, but the projectile remains adjacent the second recess in the feed lips and ready for launching, and wherein upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile that was in the barrel breach transitions to the first recess and remains with the magazine.
 2. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the projectile turns 90° in the projectile path.
 3. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the projectile path is U-shaped.
 4. The magazine of claim 1, wherein an axis of the projectile when the projectile is adjacent the second recess is collinear with an axis of the barrel.
 5. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first housing part connected to a second housing part in a clamshell manner
 6. The magazine of claim 1, wherein the feed lips are resilient.
 7. A magazine for a projectile launcher having a barrel with a breach, the magazine comprising: a housing having a cavity to retain a plurality of frangible projectiles; a follower and spring to engage and push the projectiles through the cavity; feed lips extending from the housing; and, an opening in the housing to allow a projectile to be ejected from the housing and to remain engaged by the feed lips, wherein when the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel of the launcher and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach but the projectile remains associated with the feed lips, and wherein upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile that was in the barrel breach remains with the magazine.
 8. The magazine of claim 7, further comprising a projectile path in the cavity of the housing.
 9. The magazine of claim 8, wherein the projectile turns 90° in the projectile path.
 10. The magazine of claim 8, wherein the projectile path is U-shaped.
 11. The magazine of claim 7, wherein the feed lips have a first recess and a second recess.
 12. The magazine of claim 11, wherein when the magazine is not connected to the launcher the projectile that is ejected is retained in the first recess of the feed lips.
 13. The magazine of claim 7, wherein upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile that was placed in the barrel breach remains with the magazine in a first recess in the feed lips.
 14. The magazine of claim 7, wherein when the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach, but the projectile remains associated with the feed lips of the magazine adjacent a second recess in the feed lips ready for launching.
 15. The magazine of claim 14, wherein upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile transitions to a first recess and remains with the magazine.
 16. The magazine of claim 7, wherein the feed lips are resilient.
 17. A magazine for a projectile launcher having a barrel with a breach, the magazine comprising: a housing having a projectile path to retain a plurality of frangible projectiles in the path; a follower and spring to engage and push the projectiles through the projectile path; feed lips extending from the housing, the lips having a first recess and a second recess; and, an opening in the housing to allow a projectile to be ejected from the housing but to remain engaged by the feed lips, wherein when the magazine is not connected to the launcher the projectile is retained in the first recess of the feed lips, and wherein when the magazine is connected to the launcher the feed lips engage the barrel and the projectile is placed in the barrel breach, but the projectile remains associated with the feed lips of the magazine adjacent the second recess ready for launching, but upon removal of the magazine the projectile that was in the barrel breach transitions to the first recess and remains with the magazine.
 18. The magazine of claim 17, wherein the feed lips have a first recess and a second recess.
 19. The magazine of claim 18, wherein upon removal of the magazine from the launcher the projectile that was placed in the barrel breach remains with the magazine in the first recess in the feed lips.
 20. The magazine of claim 17, wherein the projectile path is U-shaped and the projectile turns 90° in the projectile path. 